Tasting Notes: Springbank Cask Strength 12 Year Old

Cheers from Addis Ababa. I managed to purchase a Springbank Cask Strength 12 year old ($62 duty free) from the Le Clos liquor shop in DXB Terminal 3. They have a great selection of wines, cognacs, whiskies, etc., though nothing that’s Global Retail only. But you’ve rarely seen such a well-appointed shop inside of an airport. You can find it toward the juncture between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 (and if you happen to be flying in or out of T1, you can just walk to the end past C35, up the escalators, and onward into T3).

ABV: 55.1%

Color: crimson gold.

Barrel: combination of first fill and refill sherry hogsheads.

Nose: bit of dark fruit, bit of toasted cinnamon bun, bit of sun-dried tomato, hint of fuscia; warming and welcoming.

Palate: bold yet balanced; quite alcoholic. A splash of water is excellent for this one. Caramel flavours. Banana nut bread. Bit of earthy peat. Light campfire smoke on mid-palate.

Body: Velvety character to compliment the high-proof texture.

Finish: medium and tingly; candied nuts.

I love Springbank 15 and I love high-proof, peated, sherry bombs. This is a balance between the two, and, naturally, I love it as well. Perhaps not for everyone, but at $70 this would be a fixture on my shelf were I readily able to find it. A nice digestif scotch.